Well...the pictures (and this pile o' plugs) aren't mine.

They were "nicked" from the website of an antique fan collector. This is his stash and he sells the buggers. Apparently they're much coveted among the antique appliance and lamp collector crowd.

I don't destroy all live front plugs. I like the ones with the handles. But when I run across one of these, I usually use them tovent my frustrations. [Linked Image]

Seriously though...what possessed manufacturers from designing a plug that is so difficult to safely withdraw from its socket.